Practicing librarianship or teaching librarianship in library schools: a study of practicing librarians preference in university libraries in Benue state

Abstract

This study investigated librarians’ preference to practicing librarianship or teaching librarianship in library schools. It was designed to explore why librarians prefer teaching librarianship over practicing librarianship or working in University libraries in Benue State. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was made up of 47 practicing librarians in three university libraries in Benue State and was used for the study so there was no sample. Data was collected through questionnaire and analyzed with the use of frequencies, percentages and mean. Findings reveal that practicing librarians in university libraries prefer teaching librarianship in library schools because they are only known by nomenclature . The study concludes that librarians working in libraries in general and university libraries in particular are information doctors or consultants who cure those that lack information which is power by satisfying users’ information needs for teaching, learning and r esearch in university libraries in particular and national development in general in general. The study therefore recommends that practicing librarians in university libraries should not be only known by nomenclature, they should be receiving earn allowances like their other counterparts or colleagues teaching librarianship in library schools among others so as to retain them.

Keywords: Practicing Librarianship, Teaching Librarianship, Library Schools